A special edition of the BWF Para-Badminton technical workshop took place in Acapulco, Mexico. Here, para-athletes, coaches, classification experts and representatives of the National Paralympic Committees from 18 countries in the region gathered.
The event, aimed at promoting the growth of Para-Badminton in the Americas, brought together 80 participants. Valuable resources were provided through various activities including a player training camp, workshops on administration, classification and coaching within Para-Badminton.
The countries that participated in the workshop were: Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States.
The workshop was organized by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), in collaboration with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Paralympic Committee of the Americas (APC), the Pan American Badminton Confederation (BPAC), the Paralympic Committee of Mexico ( COPAME) and the Badminton Federation of Mexico (FEMEBA).
Key figures leading the workshops included John Shearer, the BWF’s Continental Development Director, and Fern Gilders, the BWF’s Tournament Development Director, who delivered the administration sessions. Experienced Para-Badminton coaches Kaity Hall, Dina Abouzeid, Guillaume Gailly and Letisson Samarone led the training camp and coaching sessions. Vivian Salazar, a BWF classification expert, led the classification workshop.
Aruba was represented by para-athlete Aiden Kock, together with coach Bernard den Dunnen and Shadrea Croes from Paralympics Aruba.
The Aruba Badminton Federation invites people with disabilities to try out badminton. They provide rackets, shuttles and even special wheelchairs for badminton. Contact the federation at 593-6789 to participate.
Badminton is for everyone!
